Using Transmission and Distribution Policy to Support Renewable Energy Deployment in the US: A Systems Approach to Accelerate Decarbonization
Payne Student Scholar and NREP student Tara Pelton writes about how in the United States, electric transmission infrastructure and policy are stalling decarbonization and limiting grid optimization. As renewable energy deployment and consumption continue to grow in the US, the need for an efficient, equitable, and resilient transmission system has only becomes timelier and more significant. This paper considers how the US could quicken decarbonization by enacting and building upon transmission policy that supports hybrid and place-based deployment strategies. The two policies proposed in this paper aim to address shortcomings in current transmission and distribution regulations and compliment recently proposed federal plans to ultimately increase grid resiliency. June 15, 2021.